McCourt set to kick-start new Irish MMA era in Dublin

MMA Mixed Martial Arts fighter Leah McCourt poses for a photograph at a Bellator MMA fight week media event in Dublin, Ireland February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

(Reuters) - Mixed martial artist Leah McCourt is relishing the chance to headline Bellator's Dublin card at the Three Arena on Saturday, knowing a win over Judith Ruis in the building where Conor McGregor rose to fame could usher in a new era for Irish MMA.

Thrust into the spotlight due to an injury to bantamweight headliner James Gallagher, Northern Ireland's McCourt is one of 13 Irish fighters on the bill, and she found out she was topping the card in the steamy surroundings of a Belfast sauna.